Machine for packing bags into containers



April 21, 1959 M. WEISMAN MACHINE FOR PACKING BAGS INTO CONTAINERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed y 18. 1953 ne A mega lcgc mam/'1 i223;

April 21, 1959 M. WEISMAN MACHINE FOR PACKING BAGS INTO CONTAINERS Filed may 18, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 a m 6 Q T m N l g m TL 67 6 4 4 0 F 7 f r M w o w W 4 M Y 2 4 w m. 5 n 4 x 3 Q.\ w A .w w 7 5 5 6 6 S M 3% 6 (3 m M Q A .lmv wrk Q April 21, 1959 M. WEISMAN MACHINE FOR PACKING BAGS INTO CONTAINERS Filed May 18, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Mam?! himazz April 21, 1959 WE'SMAN 2,882,658

' MACHINE FOR PACKING BAGS INTO CONTAINERS Filed May 18, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 V I V INVENTOR. Waurice Weisman I50 a 8 BY Apiil 2 1, 1959 M. WElSMAN 2,832,658

MACHINE FOR PACKING BAGS INTO CQNTAINERS Filed May-18, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

Maurie? WeiSman w April 1959 M. WEISMAN 2,882,658

MACHINE FOR PACKING BAGS INTO CONTAINERS Filed May 18. 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IG. INVENTOR.

Maurice Weisman April 21, 1959 M. WElSMAN 5 MACHINE FOR PACKING BAGS INTO CONTAINERS) Filed May 18. 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fully-Lt INVENTOR. Maurice Wllfflll? United States Patent MACHINE FOR PACKING BAGS INTO CONTAINERS Application May 18, 1953, Serial No. 355,501

42 Claims. (Cl. 53-24) The present invention relates to a machine for packing paper bags filled with coffee, tea or other products, more particularly food products, in containers in such a manner that the bags are packed tightly and completely filling the container.

The inventor has found, particularly in the packing of filled tea and colfee bags, that the operation must be ac, complished with the greatest of economy, both from the point of view of low labor cost and also efficiency in pack ing itself.

In particular the applicant has found that the contain-. ers should be fully and completely packed in order to economize space and weight in shipping and it is there? fore necessary to pack the bags tightly in the containers.

It has further been found that it is also important from other points of view to pack the bags tightly in the containers, but they must be packed in such a manner that they can be readily removed without damaging them.

The present invention may be applied to packing of filled coffee and tea bags whether or not they have strings, tabs or any types of handles.

While the invention is more particularly applied to the packing of paper bags of thin web material whether of paper, fabric, textile or composition of such materials it may be applied to any type of pliable bag filled with loose particles of any type or description.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a machine which will automatically pack the container such as a jar or a can with bags of the nature described above filled with materials, efficiently and rapidly and accurately with regard to the number of bags which are packed in each container.

A further object of the present invention is to accomplish the result above entirely automatically by having a continuous feed of bags filled with the desired materials and a continuous feed of containers which are delivered to the machine, ready to be filled and which are carried away from the machine after they have been filled.

A further purpose of the present invention is that the bags are delivered to the containers at a definitely selected time sequence in a manner which allows the bags to be arranged in the containers between deliveries of certain of the bags to the containers so that the contain ers may be uniformly and properly filled.

A further object of the present invention is to provide. means for spinning the containers while they are being filled and also to provide means for pressing the bags into the container all for the purpose of providing a tight packing of the bags in the container.

A further object of the present invention is to fill the containers with a definite number of bags which may be established by the manner of operation of the machine.

A further purpose of the present invention is the com.- bined operation of the machine for filling and packing the containers with the delivery of bags to the machine as they are being formed so that a continuous operation from the forming and filling of the bags themselves to thepacking of, the bags in the containers may take place;

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2 in uninterrupted fashion, and automatically. Both the delivery of the filled bags to the machine and the packing of the bags in the containers may be controlled through an operating source which synchronizes the delivery of the bags with their packing in the containers.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the machine may at any time be stopped in its operation and then afterwards resumed without in any way interfering with the counting or depositing of the correct number of bags in the containers.

Other and further advantages and improvements f in the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated from the description of the machine in its operation set forth in the specification below when read in connection with the drawings illustrating an embojdiment of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a side fragmentary elevation.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross, section taken on the line 33"of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure ,1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of an element of the invention.

Figure 7 in a plan view of the machine.

Figures 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d are fragmentary sectional elevations of four elements used in the machine.

Figure 9 is a top. plan fragmentary view of a portion of the machine.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-.10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 1111 of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a top plan fragmentary view of a modifica+ tion of a portion of the machine.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary elevation taken substan; tially along line 1313 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a mod, fication of an element of the machine corresponding with the embodiment of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a graph indicating the order of delivery of the bags into the containers.

Figure 16 is a schematic view of a modification of th machine.

Figure 17 is a partially schematic cross sectional e1 1 vation of an element of the modification.

Figure 18 is a graph indicating the order of delivery of the bags into the container of this modification.

Figure 19 is a plan view of a fragmentary modifica; tion of an element of the machine, and

Figure 20 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a detail of the invention. g

In the embodiment of the invention hereinafter de: scribed, the description will relate to a machine in which bags are received at the rate of two hundred per minute and which are packed twenty bags to the jar or container. The gear ratios and other operations of the machine will, be described with specific reference to a machine designed to operate at this rate.

However by changing the gear ratios, larger or smaller numbers of bags consecutively delivered from a coffee; bag forming machine or from some other source may be received and packed in greater or less numbers into jars or containers in the same manner as hereinafter described. Referring particularly to the drawings, the coffee bags are delivered consecutively from a continuous conveyorsystem hereinafter more fully described, to a chute 2. From this point the bags are sorted in a predetermined sequence into individual jars or containers 38 which;

rest on the platform 50 at particular stations and are individually spun at a rapid speed. These jars 38, after receiving a predetermined number of bags, are rotated from one station to anotherrto receive additional bags. As the jar or container becomes filled with a predetermined number of coffee bags, it is carried from the machine by aconveyor 79. I

Specifically a chute 2 is fixed to asupport 3 which is secured to the frame 4. The lower portion of the chute 2 is positioned over the vertical chute 5 which is fixed to the frame 4. Twenty compartments, which for convenience are numbered in groups 6,. 7, 8 and ,9 are fixed on a turntable 10, Figure 5, to a shaft 11,. and

The shaft 11, Figure 1, is driven by the shaft 30, at a constant speed of ten revolutions per minute by means of the chain 31. The shaft 30 in turn is driven from a chain drive 32 through the gear arrangement generally designated as 33. In this arrangement (see Figure 2), the chain drive 32 turns the shaft 34 carrying the worm gears 35, which in turn rotates the shaft 36 which drives the shaft 30 through the chain 37. As the shaft 11 rotates turning the turntable 10, the bags delivered through the chutes 2 and 5 are deposited in consecutive compart; ments and are carried by these compartments and allowed to pass through them to their respective chutes.

Five bags are delivered to each chute on each rotation are rotatable in a clockwise direction bythe shaft. These of theturntablelt). These deliveries are made at specific time intervals as will be more fully described in connection with the description of the plunger elements.

The bags passing through the chutes 18, 19, and

, 21 aredirected into jars 38 which have been rotated into Beneath these rotatable compartments is a'fix'ed selector plate 12 secured by supports 13 to the frame 4. The selector plate 12 is substantially circular in form with an outside" circumference corresponding substantially to the outside circumference of the compartments and with three recesses 15, 16, and 17 shown in Figures 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d. Fourchutes 18, 19, 20 and 21, (Figures 1 and 3) are fixed to this selector plate at equal distances around its periphery, the chutes 19, 20 and .21 being Secured respectively under the recesses '15,' 16 and. 17 and the chute 18 being in vertical alignment with the chute '5. The chutes are shaped to receive the bags from the compartments and directthem to the containers.

The compartments have openings corresponding respectively to respective recesses. These openings may be of various shapes and may have various positions in the walls of thecompartments provided each group of compartments will have openings which permit a bag carried in them to drop through onlyone recess in the selector plate 12. 5 As shown in Figures 8a, 8b, 8c and'8dj'one group of compartments 6 may be so arranged as to have an open ing 22 on the outside wall referring toth'e' shaft 11 with an inside wall sloping towards the opening 22, Figure 8d. This group of compartments direct the bags received from the chute 5 immediately through the compartment into the chute 18. The second group of compartments 7, (Figure 80) have an opening 24 in the compartment towards the outside edge of the bottom. An inside wall 25 slopes towards this opening. A recess 15 in the plate 12 is provided above the chute 19, thus those bags received in compartments generally designated 7 will be carried clockwise around until the compart-' ments 7 passes over the recesses 15, whereupon the bag will fall from the compartment through the recess 15 into the chute 19. A third set'of compartments generallydesignated 8, Figure 8b, have an opening 26 at the bottom of the compartment towards the inside-edge with a sloping wall 27 provided to direct the bags towards thisopening. A recess 16, somewhat longer than the recess 15, is provided in the plate 12 above the chute 20. Thus bags received in a compartment 8 will be carried clockwise until the compartment passes over the recess 16, whereupon the bag will fall into the chute 20.

Afourth set of compartments 9, Figure 8a, isprovided In the embodiment of the machine as illustrated herein (Figure 5), there are provided five compartments of the typegenerally designated 6, consecutively arranged, followed by five groups of three compartments each,. each group having in order, compartments 8, 9 and?" position as hereinafter described under these chutes. These jars or containers are carried to the machine which is being described, by the conveyor belt 39, and are deposited in the machine one at a time by the rotating v element 40.

This element 40 having a recess 41, is mounted on a shaft 42. The shaft 42 is rotated from the gear arrangement generally designated as 33 through the chain 34 geared to the lower end of the shaft 42 at the rate of ten revolutions per minute. A pair of parallel circular plates 43 and 44 are axially fixed to the shaft 45 and i tainers at the inside of the recesses. A plurality of posts 48 are positioned between these plates to secure them together in a fixed relative position.

-The shaft 45 journaled in the bearing 49 in the platform 50, has secured at its lower end a ten-tooth gear 51. Also freely pivoted to the shaft 45 is the arm 52 having a pawl 53 positioned to engage teeth of the gear 51 (Figure 1). At the free end of the arm 52 is secured a spring 54 having its other end 55 secured to the frame" 4. The free end of the arm 52 is pivotally secured to the lever 57 through the arm 59 linked freely at 60 and 61; The lever 57 pivoted at 58 bears against an elliptical cam 56 carried on and rotated by the shaft 36.

Also fixed'to the shaft 36 is a pear shaped cam 62' which engages the lever 63 pivoted at 64. A wire 65 secured to this lever 63 extends to a stop-and-release' mechanism shown in Figure 6, which is provided for positive stopping and starting action of the movemen ofthe plates 43 and 44. 3

As the shaft 42 rotates, the continuous movement 0 the belt 39 towards the machine, pushes a row of containers on the belt toward the cavity 41 of the element'or segmented'shaped disc 40. As the element 40'turns, the segment or cavity of the element turns and faces towards the row of containers. One container is then carried around with the rotation of the element 40 guided by the arm 66 fixed to the frame 4, until this container is moved over one pair of aligned recesses 46 and 47 in the parallel" plates 43 and 44 respectively. The container then drops down through these recesses to rest on the platform 50 as the element 40 continues to rotate. The element 40 is geared to rotate to deliver to the plates 43 and 44, tencontainers a minute. Each of these containers is dropped into successively aligned pairs of holes 46 and 47.

- The plates 43 and 44 rotate at one revolution per minute on the shaft 45 with intermittent motion provided by the arrangement hereinbefore described. A spring release may be provided on the element 42 to release it if a container happens to jam. 1

- In this arrangement the power source 32 supplies I power through the worm gear shaft 34 to the shaft 36,

which in turn carries the cams 56 and 62. On each revo-f lu'tion of -the shaft, the cam 56 moves the lever arm" 5-7, which;in tur-n operating through the arm-59, rotates the pawl 53 secured to it, will-engage the next tooth of the gear .and will turn the gear in a counter-clockwise direction as the spring 54 pulls the arm- 52 in a counterclockwise direction subsequent to the disengagement of the lever 57-and the cam 56. Thus the gear 51 carrying the plates 43 and. 44 will turn A revolution and will move the bottles carried in the recesses of theplates 43 and 44 to their subsequent, station. g I

A stop and releasemechanism as mentioned above and as is illustrated in Figure 6, is provided to insure positive stopping and starting of the plates 43 and 44. In this arrangement, the wire 65 controlled through the operaation of the lever 63 and cam 62 is secured at its other end to the arm 68. The arm 68 is pivoted at 69. At the upper end of the arm 68 is positioned a recess 70 and a guide 71. Secured to the fixed block 72, to which is pivoted the arm 68, is a fixed arm 73. Between the other end of this fixed arm 73 and the lower end of the arm 68 is secured a spring 74. Ten stops 75 extending downward from the lower side of the plate 44 at regular intervals are positioned to engage successively in the recess 70. In the operation of this stop-and-release mechanism on each revolution of the shaft 36, the cam 62engages the lever 63. On engaging this lever, the wire 65 is pulled and quickly released.

As the wire 65 is pulled, the arm 68 pivots at 69, releasing the stop 75 which previously had been positioned in the recess 70. At this time the spring 54, whichhas been moved into its tensioning position through the operation of the mechanism hereinbefore described, moves the plates 43 and 44 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Figure 2. .Since the tension on the wire 65 i s immediately released as the cam 62 passes the lever 63, the arm 68 returns to its normal position through the action of the spring 74 secured to the fixed arm 73. As the plates '43 and 44 continue to rotate through the action of the spring 54, the next stop 75 moves towards the guide arm 71 and bears against it forcing itself into the recess 70. When the stop 75 reaches this recess, the movement of the plates 43 and 44 will be stopped immediately and any momentum of the plates 43 and 44 which may be carried on beyond the desired position will be eliminated. The spring 54 is positioned so that when the next stop 75 has reached the recess its tensioning strength will have beensubstantially spent.

Upon each revolution of the shaft 36, the predetermined sequence of the release and stop mechanism, illustrated in Figure 6 and the gear and spring arrangement hereinbefore described, will operate in the desired man ner to rotate successive containers into their successive positions, while at the same time the turntable arrangement hereinbefore described will feed the bags received at uniform intervals to the desired containers.

The container falling into the recesses 46 and 47 are held in the recesses by a fixed arcuate strip 76, Figures 1 and 3, which is positioned between the plates 43 and 44 and which extends from the point 77 at which the containers are introduced to the machine to the point 78 where the containers are removed from the machine by the continuously moving conveyor belt 79. The conveyor belt 79, on a level with the platform 50 extends into a recess 80 in the platform 50.

In the operation of this invention, it has been found that by firmly packing the coffee bags, a much smaller container may be used, consequently saving a great deal of expense. In order to pack the bags tightly, each bottle positioned under a chute is rotated as hereinbefore described at a rapid speed, somewhere in the vicinity of 600 revolutions per minute. Simultaneously between successive deliveries of the bag, the bags in the containers positioned under the chutes 19, 20 and 21, are forced further into the container by plungers generally designated :81; Figuresl,5and7-.--- a In this plunger-arrangement, there are three plungers; 82, 83 and 84, fixed by meansof supports to the frame '4.- Each of these plungers has a rubber bulb 85, which when operated will move downward through the mouth of the containers which are positioned below. These three plungers are positioned at the chutes 19,120 and 21, respectively so that when operated, the bulbs 85 will move, downward into the containers positioned below-at that" chute. These plungers are operated through air pressure-- supplied from the tank 86. This tank'is connected to'a valve mechanism generally designated 87 which is a three-way valve. A tube 88 connects the tank '86 to the valve 87. The plungers 82, 83 and 84 are connected respectively to this valve by the tubes 89, 90 and 91. i

A gear wheel 92 fixed to the shaft 11 is provided with;- six teeth 93 which are positioned to contact the releasing switch 94 of the valve mechanism 87. The switch 84 is spring tensioned so that after-a tooth 93 has operated the switch in passing, it will immediately close the valve mechanism. In the operation of this mechanism, each time the release switch 94 is engaged by a tooth 93, a blast of air pressure is released to each of theplungers. The shaft carrying the rubber bulb 85 of the plungers is then moved downward into the container positioned below, forcing the bags that are there downwardly and outwardly. Upon the closing of the valve mechanism 87, the plunger shafts which are spring tensioned upward will return to their normal'position with the bulb 85 above the container. These plungers are synchronized to operate when the plates 43 and 44 carrying the containers are stationary and at intervals during the rotation of the turntable 10 when the bags in the compartments are not droppedinto the chutes so that the plungers will never interfere with the respective operation of these elements. I

With reference to Figure 15, each of the vertical columns indicating delivery of bags by crosses to the designated chutes at various relative positions of the compartments on the turntable, the first column labeled 1 indicating the relative deliveries to the chutes when the compartment designated 112, Figure 5, is rotated clockwise to the chute 18.

As willbe seen, the bags that dropinto each of thechutes 19, 20 and 21. respectively are spaced in time from the bags that were previously dropped in those particular chutes. This time interval is equal to the length of time it takes two compartments to pass one of the plungers. Each box represents the length of time it takes for one compartment to pass a single point. This time interval is suificiently long enough to permit the plungers to move downinto the jars positioned below them and up again before the next bagdrops into the particular container. It will also be noted that a longer period of time, extending over the relative positions labeled 17, 18, 19 and 20, as shown in Figure 14, is also provided. It is during this time interval that the 43 and 44 occurs. determined with accuracy since the plunger elements, the turntable, plates 43 and 44, and the segmented element 40 are all geared to the same source of power.

The jars or containers positioned under the chutes 18,

19, 20 and 21, are individually rotated at a speed of approximately 600 revolutions per minute in order to force bags falling into the containers towards the outside walls. of the containers making room for the bags which fol-,. low. As shown in Figure 4, this operation is performed by a spinning mechanism generally designated 95, positioned on the support 96 between the plates 43 and 44. A continuous chain drive 97, extending around the sprockets 98 and 99, and the idler sprockets 100 and 101, is

driven from the chain drive 32 connected to the. sprocket 98 through the shaft and bevel gears 102, Figure 2. This" chain 97 meshes with sprockets 103, 104,105 and 106' rotation of the plates All these operations may be positively tie-sears pivoted beneath the-chutes is, 19, and 21, res ec;

sitioned in the recesses and these containers are rotated to each position under the chutes 18, 19, 20 and 21, the sides of the containers will come into contact with the rubber wheels 107, 108, 109 and 110, and will be tensioned between them and one pair of the rotatable bearings 101' secured to the posts 48. Sufficient friction is provided between these wheels and the containers so that the containers will rotate with these rubber wheels as they are being rotated by the chain.

In this invention, coffee bags being delivered are occasionally defective and the machine has to be stopped to remove the defective bag from the conveyor. The mechanism for this is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 and 11 The conveyor, as will be noted, comprises a series of wires 113, linked together into an endless belt and which pass over the parallel tubes 114, permitting dirt, loose grounds and other undesirable material to slip between the wires onto the channel member from which they may be ultimately removed. At uniform lengths along the conveyor belt are hinged plates 116, normally held upright by the weight 151 which properly space and hold the bags along the conveyor and prevent them from slipping. The uniform spacing of the plates 116 is important in insuring a uniform delivery of the bags to the chute 2. One end of this conveyor 1'17 extends sufiiciently close to chute 2 to permit bags on the conveyor to be carried onto the chute at uniform inter vals. The other end of the conveyor belt meshes with the sprocket gears 118 which are axially mounted on a shaft 119. The shaft 119 has mounted on it a clutch 124 having two plates 125 and 126. The plate 125 is keyed to rotate with the shaft but is slidable a short distance along the length of the shaft. The plate 126 is freely rotatable on the shaft 119 but cannot move longitudinally with relation to it.

The shaft 119 rotated by the chain drive 120 through the gear 121 which is fixed to the freely rotatable plate 126 of the clutch, drives the conveyor belt at a sufficient speed so that coffee bags dropping on to it at approximately the position marked 122 are received and carried along the belt, one each before each of the plates 116 at the rate of 200 per minute. Also mounted on the shaft 119 and positioned next to the fixed plate of the clutch is the gear 123 which engages the chain 32 which in turn supplies power to the gear arrangement generally designated 33. The gear arrangement 33 is driven at a relative rate of speed suflicient to turn the turntable as hereinbefore described to receive one bag in each of its compartments. The two plates 125 and 126 are normally held together by the expansion spring 127 having one end bearing against the stop 128 which is fixed to the shaft 119 and the other end tensioning against the hub of the gear 123. A groove 129 is provided in the plate 125 of the clutch to receive the Y-shaped yoke 130. The stem of this yoke 130 is fixed to the shaft 131 which in turn is mounted in the bearings 132 and 133 for free longitudinal movement. The shaft 131 which may be moved back and forth along its length, is normally tensioned by the spring 134 which is positioned between the,

stop 135 which is fixed to the frame 4 and the stop 136 which is fixed to the shaft 131. Also secured to thefshaft 131 is a collar 137. When in" a normal operating position, the collar 137 is engaged against the tensioning of the spring 134 by the lever 138 pivoted at 139. This lever is linked to the arm 140 of the solenoid 141. The other end of the lever 138 is secured to a spring member 142 secured at its other end 143 to the frame 4. The

. .8" solenoid 141 is wired to" the H USHQS 44 which contact the slip ring 145 fixed on' the shaft 119 at the points 146and 147. As'will be noted, the slip ring 145 is provided witha metal band 148 which continually contacts the brush 144 at 146. The other connection of the slip ring is made by the contact 149 which is only'at one point on the circumference of the slip ring 145. A i h not sh wn; i Pr d n the wiring sy te which when held closed by the operator, completes the circuit between the slip ring and the solenoid. Thus when an operator seeing a bag which he wishes to remove, throws the switch to close the circuit and stop the movement of the conveyor, the circuit will not be completely closed until the contact 149 moves around to the point 147' on the brush. At this time the circuit will be closed and the solenoid will operate. The solenoid arm 140 then moves inwardly and pulls the arm 138 from the collar 137. The spring 134 bearing against the colhr 137 will then force the shaft to move in a direction as indicated by the arrow A. This movement of the shaft will cause the yoke 130 to move in a similar direction. The movement of this yoke will separate, the two clutch plates 125 and 126 causing the shaft 119, which drives the-conveyor belt, to stop, although the gear 121 continues to turn. The chain 32 which drives, the gear arrangement generally designated 33 will also stop, since it is also geared on the shaft 119.. Since the electrical contact causing the operation of the solenoid can be made at only one point of the slip ring 145, the shaft 119 will always stop in the same relative position, thus the relative positions of the plates 117 may also be determined so that coffee bags dropping from a delivery system above onto the conveyor will fall behind the lowest positioned plate 116 and will quickly slide downward oh' to another conveyor 150 which will carry the bags away. When the clutch is reengaged and the machine started up again, the bags will be correctly positioned before each plate 116, further the bag on the conveyor closest to the chute 2 will be positioned far enough away from the edge of the conveyor so that it will not inadvertently slip off the end of the conveyor, and thereby cause a miscount in the filling of the containers.

When the clutch plates are reengaged, and the packing resumed, all the various elements will start their various functions with the same relative timing, whereby all containers will receive 20 bags regardless of their particular function when the machine stopped.

It may be notedthat on the opening of the circuit, when the operator releases the switch, the lever 138 is returned to its normal upright position through the action of the spring 142. v

The collar 13! therefore may be provided with a beveled side 152 to permit the collar to be pushed past the lever .138 when the shaft 131 is returned; to its normal operating position when the operator pushes on the handle 153.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 illustrate a modification of this stop mechanism. In this modification, on the shaft 154,

are fixed sprockets 155, which drive the conveyor belt 1 as hereinbefore described. This shaft is rotated bya power chain drive 159. which meshes with the gear 158 secured to the shaft 154. A clutch 156 on the shaft has one plate 157 fixed to and rotatable with the shaft and its other meshing plate 160, freely rotatable and moveable longitudinally on the shaft. An expansion spring 161 normally holds the plates of the clutch together. This spring is tensioned between the stop 162 fixed to'the shaft and a shoulder 163 of the plate160. The sprocketgear 164 is secured to this shoulder and meshes with the chain drive 32 which supplies power to the gear arrangement 33. A groove 165 is provided on the plate 160 about which prongs of the Y shaped yoke 166 are positioned. The stem of the Y shaped yoke 166 is fixed to the shaft 167 which is. mounted on the bearings 1'68-and 169, and which may be moved backand forth along its length. Fixed to the shaft 167 is a flange 170 which contacts the lever 171 pivoted at 172.. The other end of thislever 171 has secured to it a wire 173 which is secured at its other end to a lever 174. This lever is fixed to a rotatable shaft 175 which is journalled at 176 in the extension of the frame 4. The upper end of the shaft is fixed to and carries the chute 177 which corresponds with the chute 2 in the previous descriptions. The rotation of the shaft 175 is limited by the stops 178 and 179 which are positioned to contact the lever 174 in its rotation.

When an operator wishes to stop the flow of bags in the machine, he pulls the handle 180 connected to the shaft 167. This moves the yoke 166 in the direction of the arrow B which in turn disengages the plate 160 from the plate 157. This causes the gear 164 carrying the chain 32 to stop rotating, thereby stopping the rotation of the shaft 36. However as the shaft 154 continues to rotate with the rotation of the power chain drive 159, the conveyor belt 1 will continue to carry bags delivered from the chute 181 towards the chute 177. When the shaft 167 is pulled by the operator, the flange 17,0 con tacting the lever 171 will cause the wire 173 to be pulled. This in turn, operating through the lever 179 and shaft 175 will turn the chute 177 from its normal position. In its normal position, the chute 177 directs the bags directly into the chute 5. However when it is turned as described, it will direct the bags delivered to it away from the chute into a receptacle which may be placed by the side of the machine. A locking arrangement 182 fixed to the frame may be positioned next to the shaft 167 in which may be slidably secured the projection 183 from the shaft 157. When the operator pulls the shaft 167, the projection 183 may be secured in the locking recess 184 holding the shaft in position to stop the flow of bags to the turntable. When the operation of the machine is to be resumed, the projection 183 may be released from the locking recess 184 and the operation of the spring 161 will then cause the plates 160 and 157 of the clutch to reengage, starting the operation of the machine once again. This arrangement will work similarly to the arrangement previously described, in that once the mechanism is stopped and started, the bags which are collected in the receptacle next to the machine may then be manually redelivered to the conveyor belt 1 for packing.

Referring particularly to Figures 16, 17 and 18, there is illustrated a modification of the packaging machine which is particularly designed for use with straight sided cans rather than glass jar containers. The various elements of this modification are substantially the same in construction and arrangement as the corresponding elements previously described, except where otherwise specifically set forth.

In this arrangement the cans are supplied to the rotatable receiving plates 208 and 209 corresponding with the plates 43 and 44 in Figure 1 from the continuously moving conveyor belt 186 to spaced positions along the platform 197. The platform as illustrated has ten equally spaced openings 187 about its inner axis to successively receive these cans and is intermittently rotated about the axis 188 in the manner previously described. Four plungers are positioned at stations 189, 190, 191 and 192, illustrated by the concentric circles in Figure 16. These plungers are of the same type and operate in the same manner as plungers 82, 83, and 84, Figure 5, and which are further described in connection with Figure 20. Between the stations 189 and 190, is positioned an impacting arrangement 193, illustrated in Figure 17. In this arrangement an impacting hammer 194 is mounted on a shaft 194a extending upwards from the piston of the air blast cylinder 195. This hammer is slidingly secured in the bracket 196, which in turn is fixed to the lower side of the platform 197 which corresponds to the previously described platform 50.

An opening 198 in alignment with the hammer is formed in this platform 197. Air blasts to the cylinder 195 are supplied through the tube 199 from a compressor or tank, not shown, but which corresponds with the tank 86 in Figure l.

Positioned directly above the hammer 194 and sufliciently high enough to clear the top of the containers as they are passed underneath, is a weight arrangement generally designated as 200. In this arrangement, a free moving weight 201 is secured to a wire 202 which runs over the stationary pulleys 203. The wire 202 is secured at its other end to an arm 204 extending outward from the shaft 205 at the top of which is 205a operating in a cylinder 206. Movement of the shaft secured to the piston in the cylinder 206 is provided by air blasts supplied from an air tank corresponding to tank 86 in Figure 1,

through the opening 207 in the cylinder.

When a can, carried in the receiving plates 208 and 209, which correspond to plates 43 and 44 in Figure 1, is moved into position over the hammer 193, air blasts supplied to the cylinders 195 and 206 respectively, cause the weight 201 to move down into the can to prevent bags in the can from bobbing out as it is being impacted.

An equivalent means of preventing bags from bobbing out of a container is illustrated in Figure 20. In this arrangement, an air cylinder 237 has secured to its piston 238, a plunger shaft 239. An expansion spring 240 within the cylinder tensions the plunger shaft upwards. Air pressure is admitted through the top of the cylinder to force the plunger shaft down against the action of the spring 240. The plunger head 242 is secured to a freely rotatable collar 241 positioned at the bottom of the shaft 239. This arrangement is similar to the plungers 82, 83

and 84, except that as an equivalent of the bulb type plunger head previously described, a narrow strip of flexible material, preferably rubber, is used. This type of head may readily spread out under the curved sides of a jar when forced down onto the contents, as shown by dotted lines 243. It may be noted that either type of plunger head 85 or 242 may be rotated, which permits them to rotate with the spinning containers receiving bags and thereby avoids damage to the bags.

Also illustrated in Figure 20, is means for synchronizing the operation of the impacting system, and the plungers. On the shaft 244 corresponding with shaft 11 in Figure 1, is fixed the gear and valve arrangement 92 and 87 respectively, controlling the operation of the plungers 82, 83 and 84, previously described but not shown here.

Secured on the same shaft is a fifty-six tooth gear 245 with eight consecutive teeth removed. A three-way quickrelease poppet valve 246 is positioned to be opened when contacted by each tooth. This valve controls air pressure from a common tank to the impacting hammer, not shown, through tube 247. During the rotation of the toothless section of the gear past the valve, the hammer will not operate, permitting an undisturbed time interval for movement of successive containers into position over the hammer. Also positioned on the shaft 244 is the cam 248 and another poppet valve 249 which controls the operation of the plunger 239. In this arrangement the cam is designed to open the valve 249 during the time interval in which the hammer is operating. When the hammer stops impacting the container, the cam releases the valve and the plunger head 242 moves out of the container, permitting the container to be moved from the hammer.

This use of individual poppet valve and gear release arrangements for operation of the plungers, impacting hammer and weight, facilitate adjustment of these elements. It may be noted that the three way valves used in this construction have a quick air release to facilitate pos1tive action.

In this arrangement of Figure 16, the bags are received successively in the compartments 210 from the conveyor belt 211 through the chute 212. It may be noted however that in this arrangement the particular point at which the bags are delivered to the compart- 11 ments is not the same as previously described, but rather at a point aligned with the conveyor. The bags are carried by the compartments in the direction as indicated by the arrow 213 and are delivered to containers positioned at the four stations 189, 190, 191 and 192. The particular sequence of delivery in this situation is different from the delivery sequence as previously described. This sequence is illustrated in the diagram of Figure 18, in which each X represents a bag delivered to the particular chute or station indicated, and vertical lines indicate a time interval for rotation of the plates 208 and 289 carrying the containers. The impact device 193 is positioned between the last two stations 189 and 199, so that when a container reaches the impacting station, it will have already received eighteen bags, six at each of the chutes 190, 191 and 192. The impacting of this device 193 settles these eighteen bags down far enough below the top of the can so that the remaining two bags to be delivered at station 189 may fall into the can with a large amount of room to spare. This eifectively prevents any part of a bag from hanging over the top edges of the can which would prevent an effective vacuum when sealed. The containers after receiving the last two bagsat the station 189 are then subsequently rotated to the conveyor belt 214 which carries them from the ma chine.

Because of this rearrangement, if the structure of the compartments and selector plate or template is to remain substantially the same, the bags carried in the compartment illustrated in Figure 8d must be held in this compartrnent by a retaining wall which is fixed vertically around the plate 12 from the point of delivery to the bags to the point at which the bags in these compartments are to be delivered. This is shown in dotted line at 254 in Figure 8d, since this construction is only used in the modification.

In this arrangement, a spinning device for spinning the cans at each delivery station may also be used. This spinning device is substantially similar to the spinning mechanism 95 previously described, Figure 5. It may be noted that the can positioned above the impacting means is not spun. Thus there will be rubber discs corresponding to the rubber disc 109 as shown in Figure 4 for spinning the cans only at stations at which bags are delivered. In this spinning mechanism, because of the increased number of delivery points, the containers may be rotated at about 480 r.p.m. rather than 600 r.p.m.

In Figure 19 there is illustrated a modification of the means for stopping the delivery of the bags to the previously described turn-table 10. The bags, delivered to the moving conveyor belt 215, are dropped from the belt 215 into the chute 216 from whence they fall into consecutive compartments on the turntable as previously described. A deflecting plate 217, angularly positioned above the chute 216, normally deflects the bags into the chute 216 as they fall from the conveyor belt 215. This deflecting plate 217 is hinged at its lower edge 218 on the hinge support 219, and is held in its normal position by ordinary spring means, not shown.

The conveyor belt 215 is driven at its other end through the rotating shaft 220. This shaft in turn is chain driven from a motor by the chain and gear 221. A clutch arrangement 222 with a free clutch plate 223 is also secured on the shaft 222. Secured to the free clutch plate 223 is a gear and chain drive 224 which supplies power to the packaging machine. Parallel to the rotating shaft 220 is a shaft 225 which is slidingly secured to the frame 226. An expansion spring 227 positioned between a collar 228 of the shaft 225 and a shoulder 229 fixed to the frame and through which the shaft is slidingly positioned, spring tensions the shaft in the direction of the arrow 230.

A solenoid 231 is provided with an armature 232 which normally engages the collar 228. The armature 232 is also connected to the deflecting plate 217 by a wire 233. Positioned on the shaft 220 is a one point slip-ring arrangement 234, which is connected in series with the solenoid 231. In the operation of this mechanism, when the operator decides that the machine should be stopped, as for example, to remove a broken bag, or for any purpose, he closes the solenoid circuit, causing the armature 232 to move away from the collar 228. This causes the spring 227 to push the shaft 225 in the direction of the arrow 230, which in turn causes the clutch 222 to disengage through the action of the yoke 235, stopping the machine. At the same time the movement of the armature 232 causes the deflecting plate 217 to pivot toward the chute 216 on its hinged bottom when the plate 217 is pivoted. Thus bags which are still being delivered on the conveyor 215 will no longer be directed into the chute 216 by this plate 217 but rather they will fall beyond the plate 217 into the chute 236 which directs the flow of bags away from the machine into a separate container.

In this arrangement, the single point contact of the slip-ring 234 insures that the machine when stopped, will always stop in the same relative position with reference to the position of the bag about to be delivered from the conveyor 215. Likewise when the machine is started again by pushing the shaft 225 back into position, the machine will start again in exactly the same relative relationship, thus there never will be a miscount in the delivery of bags to a particular container.

With further reference to Figures 1 and 3, there is illustrated a platform 250 fixed to the frame in a hori-. zontal position just above the level of the containers. Through the platform there are provided three shallow cup-like apertures 251, 252 and 253, positioned respectively below the chutes 19, 20, and 21 and directly above the mouths of the containers positioned below. As bags slide from the chutes they are momentarily caught and held in a horizontal position by the edges of these apertures. The plungers 82, 83 and 84 respectively, immediately move downward and force the bags thus held through the opening into the containers below. The bags are thereby placed in the containers in a horizontal position.

Although this positioning is particularly important in narrow mounted containers, it may be noted that it is particularly desirable to pack these bags as tightly as possible commensurate with avoiding damage to them so that a minimum of residual oxygen will remain when the containers are vacuum sealed.

The segmented disc 40 may in place of a single segmented section 41 have two or more segments. In this event the disc would be rotated at a correspondingly slower speed.

Having now described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A machine for packing bags into containers comprising means adapted to receive a group of containers in spaced positions, means for receiving the bags and delivering them to said group of containers in a predetermined sequence and means for spinning said containers at high speeds during the filling of the container with the bags.

2. A machine for packing bags into containers comprising a rotatable means for receiving said bags and for delivering said bags to several predetermined positions in predetermined numbers for delivery to the containers, means for positioning a plurality of said containers at said several predetermined positions in the machine to receive said bags as they are delivered from the rotatable means, and means for spinning said plurality of containers positioned to receive said bags.

3. A machine for packing bags into containers comprising a rotatable means for receiving said bags and for delivering said bags to several predetermined positionsin predetermined numbers for delivery to the containers, means for positioning a plurality of said containers at said several predetermined positions in the machine to receive said bags as they are delivered from the rotatable means, means for feeding said containers tation of said plate at fixed time intervals, comprising 1 a gear fixed to the plate, a lever linkage system having a pawl positioned to engage the gear and move it in one direction only, cam means for operating said linkage system to advance the pawl in one direction of rotation and spring means moving the pawl in the other direction of rotation.

5. A machine for packing bags in containers,'comprising means for receiving the bags and selectively delivering them to diiferent containers, means for receiving the containers and spacing them in positions to receive said bags, comprising rotatable plate means having a plurality of circumferentially disposed means for receiving said containers, means for intermittent rotation of said plate, means determining a uniform time interval between said intermittent rotation whereby said containers are positioned to receive a uniform number of bags between movements of said rotatable plate means.

6. A machine for packing bags in containers, comprising means for receiving the bags and selectively delivering them to different containers, means for receiving the containers and spacing them in position to receive said'bags, including means for advancing the position of the containers from one station to another to receive the delivery of the bags as determined by the selection and a disc having a recessed peripheral segment position to receive said containers therein one after another and means for rotating said disc for delivering said containers to said second named means.

7. A machine for packing bags in containers, comprising means for receiving the bags and selectively delivering them to diiierent containers, means for receiving the containers and spacing them in position to receive said bags, comprising rotatable plate means having a plurality of circumferentially disposed means for receiving said containers, and means for intermittent rotation of said plate at fixed time intervals comprising spring tensioning means for rotating said plate at fixed time intervals, and means determining positively the engagement and release of said spring tensioning means for said rotation.

8. A machine for packing bags in containers, comprising means for receiving the bags and selectively delivering them to different containers, means for receiving the containers and spacing them in position to receive said bags, comprising rotatable plate means having a plurality of circumferentially disposed means for receiving said containers, and means for intermittent rotation of said plate at fixed time intervals comprising a gear fixed to the plate, a lever linkage system having a pawl positioned to engage the gear and move it in one direction only, and a plurality of independent means operating said linkage system for moving the pawl in opposite directions respectively.

.9. A machine for packing bags in containers, comprising means for receiving the bags and selectively delivering them to different containers, means for receiving the containers and spacing them in position to receive said bags, comprising rotatable plate means having a plurality of circumferentially disposed means for receiving said containers, and means for intermittent rotation of said plate at fixed time intervals comprising a gear fixed to the plate, a lever pivoted concentrically with the axis of said gear and having a pawl engaging therewith for advancing the gear a given angular magnitude and" means for oscillating said lever in clockwise and counterclockwise direction whereby said gear is moved step by step.

10. A machine for packing bags into containers, comprising means for receiving the bags and selectively delivering them to different stations, means for receiving the containers in spaced relation and moving them successively to successive stations to receive the bags, individual plunger means positioned at each station, means for opening said means for moving the plungers into the containers between deliveries of the bags and movement of the containers.

11. A machine for packing bags into containers, comprising means for receiving the bags and selectively delivering them to difierent stations, means for receiving the containers in spaced relation and moving them successively to successive stations to receive the bags, individual plunger means positioned at each station, each comprising an air cylinder having a piston movable therein, a plunger secured to the piston and means for intermittently admitting air pressure into said cylinder for moving said plunger arms into the container, positioned below the plunger between deliveries of the bags and movement of the containers.

12. A machine for packing bags into containers comprising means for delivering the bags to diiferent stations,

successively to successive stations, means for spinning the containers at each station positioned to contact the walls of the containers when they are moved to the station, impacting means for jarring the containers comprising an air blast operated impacting hammer, means positioning the hammer to operate against the bottom of the containers when they are moved over the hammer, and an air blast means for selected intervals.

14. A machine for packing bags into containers comprising means for delivering the bags to diflterent stations, means for receiving the containers and moving them successively to successive stations, impacting means for jarring the containers comprising an air blast operated impacting hammer, means positioning the hammer to operate against the bottom of the containers when they are moved over the hammer, an air blast means for operating said hammer at selected intervals, a movable weight means positioned to be moved into the containers when jarred by the impacting means and operative means for moving said weight.

15. A machine for packing bags into containers comprising a plurality of circumferentially disposed compartment means for successively receiving individual bags in each compartment, conveyor means positioned to receive bags in spaced relation and carry them to successive compartments as the compartments are rotated. means for releasing the bags from said compartments at predetermined stations, a rotatable plate with circumferentially disposed means for receiving said containers and for carrying them to successive stations, operating means for driving the conveyor means, rotating the compartment means and intermittently rotating the re tatable plate in a selected relation.

16. A machine for packing bags into containers having a conveyor for receiving continuously at regular spaced intervals a succession of bags, a plurality of operating said hammer at v ompa m n s i larly arr g i fix d l ti n h one another for receiving single bags in successive compartments from said conveyor, means for delivering bags from said compartments to selected stations, a rotatable plate means having circumferentially disposed means for receiving containers and moving them successively to said stations, means for rotating said compartments about a common axis, intermittently rotating said rotatable plate and driving said conveyor in a selected relation with one another, and means for stopping and starting the rotation of said rotatable plate, and said compartments and the movement of said conveyor in a selected relation.

17. A method of packing bags into a plurality of containers, comprising dropping bags into each of said plurality of container at intermittent time intervals, tamping the bags down into said containers between the intermittent time intervals and spinning the container rapidly during the delivery and tamping of the bags.

18. A method of packing bags into a container, comprising dropping bags into the container at intermittent time intervals, tamping the bags down into the container between certain intermittent time intervals, jarring the container during a certain intermittent time interval and spinning the container rapidly during the delivery and tamping of the bags.

19. A method of packing bags containing granular material, in which the thickness is substantially smaller than the other dimensions of the bag, into containers, comprising dropping the bags with the long dimensions in a horizontal position into the center of the container and simultaneously spinning the containers, whereby some of the bags are moved toward the Walls of the containers making room for depositing of additional bags in the center of the container.

20. A method of packing bags containing granular material, in which the thickness is substantially smaller than the other dimensions of the bag, into containers, comprising dropping the bags with the long dimensions in a horizontal position into the center of the container, simultaneously spinning the containers whereby some of the bags are moved toward the walls of the containers, and impacting the containers to settle the granular material in the bags between delivery of the bags.

21. In a machine of the type described for packing bags into containers, an impacting device comprising a platform for supporting a plurality of containers with an opening in said platform, means for moving said containers in spaced relation successively over said opening, an impacting hammer, means slidingly supporting said hammer in a vertical position below said opening, air blast means for intermittently moving said hammer against the bottom of said container and means for operating said air blast means when a container is stationarily positioned above said opening.

22. In a machine of the type described for packing bags into containers, an impacting device comprising a platform for supporting a container with an opening in said platform below said container, an impacting hammer, means slidingly supporting said hammer in a vertical position below said opening, and an air blast means for intermittently moving said hammer against the bottom of said container.

23. In a machine of the type described for packing bags into containers, a container spinning mechanism comprising aplurality of individual rubber discs, means for tensioning said discs one each against the walls of containers, chain means with a plurality lot meshing sprockets said sprockets mounted one each axially with said discs, and means for driving said chain means.

24. In a machine of the type described for packing bags simultaneously into a plurality of containers, means for spinning said containers as they receive the bags comprising plate means having spaced openings therein for holding said containers, a plurality .of rotatable discs, means for holding the discs in frictional contact against the walls of said containers, chain means with a plurality of meshing sprockets, said sprockets mounted one each axially with said discs for rotating the same, and means for driving said chain means.

25. A machine for packing bags into containers comprising means for delivering the bags to different stations, means for receiving the containers and moving them successively to successive stations, impacting means for jarring the containers comprising an air blast operated impacting hammer, means positioning the hammer to operate against the bottom of the containers when they are moved over the hammer, an air blast means for operating said hammer at selected intervals, a plunger means having a head positioned to be moved into the containers when said containers are jarred by the impacting means, and operative means for effecting said moving of the head.

26. In a machine of the type described for packing bags into containers, means for receiving and distributing said bags comprising a plurality of compartments circumferentially disposed about a common axis, means for rotating said compartments about the common axis, means for delivery of signal bags to consecutive compartments as they are rotated, template means with selected disposed openings positioned below said compartments and opening in said compartments positioned to be aligned with one of said selected disposed openings as said compartments are rotated, whereby said bags are distributed in groups through each of said selected disposed openings.

27. In a machine of the type described for packing bags into containers, means for feeding and spacing containers in said machine comprising a rotatable segmented disc, means for pressing a column of containers against said disc, an arcuate guide concentrically spaced from said segmented disc, means rotating said disc, whereby said containers are indivdiually moved from said column by the segmented portion of the disc guided by the arcuate guide, a rotating receiving means with spaced openings for receiving containers from the discs as said spaced openings are consecutively aligned with the end of said arcuate guide and means for intermittently rotating said receiving means in fixed relation with the rotation of said disc.

28. In a machine of the type described for automatically packing bags in containers including a system for starting and stopping the delivery of the bags to the containers comprising a conveyor belt means adapted to receive the bags along the conveyor length and deliver them to the machine preparatory for delivery to the container, means for driving the conveyor means including a two part clutch consisting of a driven part connected to and driving the conveyor means and a driving part having a driving source and electromagentic means including a manually operated switch and circuit and means associated therewith for completing the circuit thereto in definitely selected positions of operation of the machine for stopping the machine with the bags on the conveyor always in the same selected positions.

29. In a machine of the type described for automatically packing bags in containers including a system for starting and stopping the delivery of the bags to the containers comprising a conveyor belt means adapted to receive the bag along the conveyor length and deliver them to the machine preparatory for delivery to the container, means for driving the conveyor means including a two part clutch consisting of a driven part and a driving part, means connecting one of said parts for operating the machine, an electromagentic means and circuit operatively controlled by one of said parts when the circuit is energized for disengaging said clutch for stopping the delivery of bags to the compartments.

30. In a machine of the type described for automatically packing bags in containers, including a system for starting and stopping the delivery of the bags to the con- 17 tainers, comprising a conveyor belt adapted to receive the bags along its length and delivering them to the machine preparatory for delivery to the containers, a driven shaft upon which said conveyor belt is mounted, means rotatable with the driven shaft for driving the machine, a two-part clutch consisting of a driven part keyed to said shaft and a driving part free to rotate on said shaft. 8. short collar keyed to said driven shaft having means providing a conductive element over a narrow strip on the surface of said collar a pair of conducting brushes bearing on said collar, electromagentic means in series circuit with said brushes, means operative by said electro-magnetic means for disengaging the parts of said clutch for stopping the machine and said conveyor belt whereby said machine and belt are stopped in relatively the same position at all times.

31. In a machine of the type described forautomatically packing bags in containers including a system for starting and stopping the delivery of the bags to the containers, comprising a conveyor belt, means adapted to receive the bags along the conveyor belt and delivering them to the machine preparatory for delivery to the containers, a driving shaft on which said conveyor belt is mounted, a free driving gear on said shaft for driving the rest of the machine, a clutch having a part associated with said free driving gear, said clutch having a second part keyed to the driving shaft, means for disengaging said clutch for stopping the said other parts of the machine, and means simultaneously operative by said last named means for delivering the flow of bags from the conveyor belt off of said machine.

32. A device substantalily as set forth in claim 31, in which the means for operating the clutch and diverting the flow of bags from the machine, comprises an electromagnetic means manually operative.

33. A device substantially as set forth in claim 31, in which the means for disengaging the clutch and diverting the flow of bags from the machine comprises a manually operative member.

34. A machine for packing articles into containers comprising a vertical shaft, means for rotating said shaft at a constant speed, a turntable carried by and rotatable with said shaft, said turntable having a plurality of circumferentially arranged compartments for receiving articles, means for feeding articles to said compartments, means for delivering articles from said compartments to several predetermined discharge positions in predetermined sequence, means for receiving containers, conveyor means for intermittently advancing successive containers from one to the other of said discharge positions in turn, and means for removing containers from the machine after they have been filled.

35. A machine for packing articles into containers comprising a vertical shaft, means for rotating said shaft at a constant speed, a plurality of circumferentially arranged compartments for storing articles carried by and rotatable with said shaft, means for feeding articles to each compartment in turn, means for selectively effecting removal of articles from individual ones of said compartments and delivering the removed articles to several predetermined positions, and means for intermittently moving successive containers from one to the other of said several positions in turn to receive articles delivered at said several positions.

36. A machine for packing articles into containers comprising a horizontally disposed turntable provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged storage compartments, means for rotating said turntable, means for feeding articles to each compartment in turn, means for effecting removal of articles from individual ones of said compartments in predetermined order, means for delivering articles removed from said compartments to several predetermined positions, means for feeding containers into the machine, means for intermittently advancing containers in the machine from one to the other of said 18 predetermined positions to receive articles delivered to said position, and means for removing containers from said machine after they have received a predetermined number of articles at each of said positions.

37. A machine as defined by claim 36, wherein said means for advancing containers in the machine from one to the other of said predetermined positions comprises a rotatable plate mounted beneath said turntable and having a plurality of circumferentially disposed means for receiving said containers.

38. A machine as defined by claim 36, further including means for rapidly spinning containers at each of said several positions, thereby to centrifugally force the articles in the containers toward the walls thereof.

39. A machine for packing articles into containers comprising a vertical shaft supported for rotation on its own longitudinal axis, means for rotating said shaft, a turn table carried by and rotatable with said shaft, said turntable having a plurality of circumferentially arranged storage compartments each open at its top ends, certain ones of said compartments each having a first gravity discharge port located at a first fixed radial distance from the center of rotation of said turntable, others of said compartments each having a second gravity discharge port located at a second fixed radial distance from their center of rotation, a horizontal plate fixedly supported beneath said turntable having a substantial imperforate portion blocking the discharge ports of the compartments that are located substantially above said imperforate portion, said horizontal plate also having first and second discharge openings located the same distance from said center of rotation as said first and second discharge ports respectively, whereby as said turntable rotates each of said first ports in turn and each of said second ports in turn will pass into article discharging alinement with said first and second openings respectively, thereby to release articles from said compartments in a predetermined sequence, first and second chutes located beneath said first and second openings respectively for directing articles falling thereto to containers at first and second predetermined positions respectively, a second plate fixedly secured below said first plate, means for delivering containers to be filled onto said second plate, means for intermittently advancing successive containers along said plate from one to the other of said first and second positions at a time when all of said first and second discharge ports are out of direct vertical alinement with said first and second openings respectively, and means for removing containers from said second plate after they have been filled with a predetermined number of articles.

40. A machine for packing articles into containers comprising a vertical shaft supported for rotation on its longitudinal axis, means for rotating said shaft, a horizontal turntable aiiixed to and rotatable with said shaft said turntable having a plurality of circumferentially arranged compartments each provided with a discharge port, said plurality of compartments being classifiable into several groups with the compartments of one group distinguishable from the compartments of the other groups by the location of said discharge ports relative to the center of rotation of said turntable, the compartments of each group having their discharge ports located at a difierent distance from said center of rotation than the discharge ports of the other groups, a fixed horizontal plate beneath said compartments, said plate comprising a major imperforate portion acting to block the discharge ports of the compartments located thereabove and a minor portion having a plurality of spaced openings equal in number to said groups, and located at different distances from said center of rotation, each opening spaced from said center of rotation a distance equal to the distance between said center of rotation and the discharge ports of one of said groups of compartments, whereby as said turntable is rotated the discharge port of each compartment in turn is bmught: intczv aliningr relation: with: one:v off said: tmefiemmeleaaeofi anticiessfmm saidnomparlmentemeans ion directing: articles; released; thnough; said: plurality; oi openings to a plur.ah'ty oi' predeierminext containerefilling positions-,, means: fon'feeding containers into. the; machine, and means. for, intermittently advancing; successive eon:- tainelis fmm oneto; the; Qthen of:said.containet-filling; P0311 t-ions whereby: each containenreceives, a predetermined numberof articles: at each ofi saidpositions;

41. A machine as defined by olefin-40; furtheninclud ing means for removing successive containers from said machine aftersaid-containers havepassed in turnthrough eachofisaid container-filling positions.

42'. A machine as defined by claim 40; furtherinclud ing means for operating said} container-advancing means only when all of said discharge, ports are out of, discharg ing aiinement with said openings.

Refinance: Gited izr theefile of:this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS Galleazzi'. Aug; 2.0, 19,128 Evans et a1 V... Mar, 29,-, 1921 loneswuqn-e "Aug, 11,1931 Scott et a1. .V Aug. 9,193.2. Thompson. 7.- Apr. 12, 19.49. Von Sydow .n May 95,1951) Mi-acheck, v--- May 23,.1950, Hamilton Mar. 21,1951 Carruthers s r -1 Sept. 4", 195.1 Brown Mar. 1.0, 1953v Polk-ct a1. n Apr. 14, 19 53 ve l ,Eeb. 2,195.4 Haumiller et, a1. Aug.1'D,i19,5..4. Olson, V Nov. 9., 1954 Pattersoneiah Dec. 21, 19,54 

